William g



(No Model.)

W. G. POSTER.

WARDROBE HOOK.

Patented Feb. 21,1882.

N. PETERS, Pmmumn n hu, Washingkm. nc.

' 35 hook embodying my invention, with the side UNrran ST TES PATENT @FFIGEO WILLIAM e.- FOSTER, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF TO LEVERETT E. FITTS, OF SAME PLACE.

WARDROBE-HOOK.

SPECHICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,918, dated February 21, 1882.

Application filed December 16, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIA G. FOSTER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Ohicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois,

have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Wardrobe-Hooks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to wardrobe-hooks in which the locking mechanism is automatically 1o operated to render the pivoted jaw rigid when swung to its operative position; and the objects of my invention are to provide a lock for wardrobe-hooks with an automatic locking device operating against the base or short arm,

and not the point or long arm of the pivoted jaw of the hook, and in such a manner that the line of strain will not be in a line through v the pivot of said jaw; to have a positive and direct bearing of the locking devices against the pivoted jaw; to provide means for lociging the pivoted jaw at..varying distances between a given point and the rigid jaw of a wardrobe-hook; to provide such a lock with a combination of locking devices, which are herein designated as locking-Wedges, and with means requiring a novel movement of the key;

to prevent said look from being picked; and,

- finally, to construct of few and simple parts a lock having the above-mentioned characteristics, and thereby reduce the cost and liability to get out of order. I attain these objects by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-=- Figure l is a side elevation of a lock and plate removed from the lock, and the "hook partly in section to clearly showthe internal structure of the lock, the key being in its first position preparatory to turning it over in the lock to relieve the wedge from the pivoted jaw. Fig. 2 is a front view of the lock with the hooks removed; Fig. 3, a side elevation of the key; Fig. 4., a perspective of the lock and wardrobe-hook combined.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures ot' the drawings.

In Fig. 1, A represents a rectangular case provided at each end with lugs a a, perforated (No model.)

to receive screws for securing the case to the wall or wardrobe, said case having at its bottom end a rigidly-secured upturned hook, B,

of the ordinary construction, for supporting hats, coats, and other wearing apparel.

Pivoted in lugs I) b of the ease, and above the hook B, is a hook-shaped jaw, 0, having an upward extension, forming a hook, 0, designed to be used for a hat or-other article when the hook B is full. Jaw 0 extends inward and above its pivot, and is provided with a beveled face, (I, which extension is in the nature of an inclined plane, and affords a bearing-surface for one or more lockin g devices, D D, (see Fig. 2,) which I term locking-wedges. The body of these looking-wedges is straight, but at their lower ends they are provided with a right-angular projection, c, for engagement with a key, as will'presently be explained, and at the. upper end with a similar butlarger projection,f, the outer edgeot' which is straight with the end of the body, and the inner edge rounded, as shown at gin Fig. 2.

Between the upper ends of the lockingwedges and the end of the case is a coiled expansion-spring, h, which has an end bearing against the case and the locking-wedges, and serves to push the locking-wedges downwardly in the case, and keep them bearing against and lock the pivotedjaw, the downward stroke of the wedges being limited by a stop or rib, i, in the vcase, as well as by the incline d.

In Fig. 1 the locking-wedges are shown in position when looking the pivoted jaw to the wardrobe-hook, and it will be understood that if the lockin g-wedges be pushed upwardly the pivoted jaw may be swung open, but that it, before the extension has traveled entirely down the curved face g of the locking-wedge, the upward movement be stopped, the end of the extension d will bind against the curved edge g, (see dotted lines, Fig. 1,) and the furtheropeno ing of thej aw be prevented. When the parts are in the position last referred to, the peculiar curvature of. the edge 9 is such that the power of the spring h is sufficient to overcome the binding or friction of the locking-wedge and the extension 5 d. Hence the pivoted jaw, if released, will be closed, but cannot be farther opened except the wedge be pushed up suifieiently to permit I this function whether the wedges be in a vertical or horizontal position, through which, in the former position, the spring is not absolutely essential, for the gravity of the wedge would alone be sufficient for the purpose; furthermore, that the wedges operate against the short arm of the jaw, and are therefore applicable to other locks, such as padlocks, door-locks, &c.; and that the line of strain of these wedges is at all times in a line outside of and not. through the pivot. Hence their binding or looking force is almost unlimited.

To operate the lockingwedges a key, 70, the bit of which is longer than its pin, is inserted through an elongated slot, Z, at one side of the case, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) and is then turned upon its pin until the bit is at a right angle to its first position, and in contact with the studs ec on the locking-wedges. The key-is then pushed upward to disengage said wedges from the pivoted jaw, as already described.

By having the key-hole which requires the key to be entered and turned in this manner to operate the locking-wedges a safeguard is provided for eifectually preventing picking of the look by any of the ordinary methods, and the lock rendered as efieetii e in this respect as tumbler structure.

While two locking-wedges have been shown and described, it is obvious that but one need be used; but of course by using several the lock is rendered harder to pick.

By constructing the locking wedges of varying lengths or thicknesses it will beunderstood that a great number of locks may be made,

and eachrequire a different key to operate it.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent .is

1i In a wardrobe-hook, the combination,with the pivoted jaw or hasp, of one or more locking-wedges continuously bearing against said jaw at apoint below or in a line of strain outside of their pivot, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a wardrobe-hook, of a pivoted jaw and one or more locking-wedges having a curved edge engaging with said jaw, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the swinging jaw of the locking wedge or wedges'having the curved projection, of an expansion-spring automatically operating said wedge or wedges, substantially as described.

4. The swinging jaw having the beveled extension,in combination with thelocking-wedge having the curved projection, substantially as described.

WILLIAM G. FOSTER.

Witnesses:

JNo. G. ELLIOTT, I WILLIAM C. WHITING. 

